Festival offers chance to campaign

MICHAEL REEDStaff Writer

Published Sunday, November 03, 2002

The Lincolnville Jazz Festival couldn't escape politics as candidates jockeyed for votes with their campaigns coming down to the wire.

The General Election is Nov. 5, which made Saturday one of the last chances for candidates to get their message across. Many candidates are known to the electorate by now, but they couldn't miss the opportunity to meet more people.

"You never feel you've done all you can," said St. Augustine Commission and mayoral candidate George Gardner. "You just have to keep going right up to the end."

Gardner walked around the festival with Casey, a golden retriever wearing a vest that read: "Vote for my dad." Gardner faces Mayor Mark Alexander and St. Augustine Commissioners Susan Burk and William Lennon for the mayor's seat. He faces Alexander for the City Commission Seat 5.

St. Augustine City Commission candidate Errol Jones missed homecoming for Florida A & M University, his alma mater, to campaign at the festival. He wanted to be in Tallahassee Saturday, but he knew he needed to be in St. Augustine.

"It's the final weekend, and it's critical," Jones said.

Jones faces Virginia Whetstone for Seat 3.

The Democratic Women's Club of St. Johns County set up a table with literature on Democratic candidates for various offices. Volunteers handed out literature on gubernatorial candidate Bill McBride, state Senate candidate Andy Wojcicki and others.

"It's important to be seen everywhere right before the election," said Laura Atkinson, president of the club.

Keith Smith of Mandarin stopped by the club's table to pick up a McBride bumper sticker. He said he wanted to see more time spent on candidates' issues and less on personalities.

People haven't been concentrating on the right issues, and it's partly the media's fault, he said. He wanted the voters to be informed at the polls Nov. 5.

"Anywhere you can have education on the issues, it's important," he said.

Democratic Congressional candidate Wayne Hogan had a table adjoining the Democratic Women's Club. People said he dropped by the festival earlier in the day. Hogan faces Republican Rep. John Mica for the District 7 seat.

A caravan of cars with signs for McBride and Hogan were seen driving through St. Augustine Saturday. Some candidates, such as Gardner and St. Augustine City Commission hopeful Don Crichlow went out "walking the neighborhoods," as their campaign volunteers put it. Crichlow also had a booth at the festival, and he faces incumbent Raymond Connor for Seat 4.

Across town at the 2002 First Coast Ham Jam at World Golf Village, the candidates had different agendas. The Record couldn't find anyone running for local races, save the coveted barbecue competition.

Amidst the live music and carnival rides, dozens of teams from across the state competed for the best barbecue.

The team of "Too Hot to Handle" from Green Cove Springs knew they didn't finish in the top three, but they were hoping for a spot in the top 10.

They admitted it was more for bragging rights than anything else. The cook-off fosters camaraderie, good people compete and the team likes to barbecue, said chief cook Nancy Veek.